Cultural competency in international health program collaboration

Abstract

This chapter aims to raise awareness among medical personnel on the importance of cultural competence in the context of international health projects. Because medical science is a hard science, the focus of practitioners is often on technical excellence and rarely on soft skills like cross-cultural competency. However, appropriately considering the cultural norms and expectations of the community can contribute to the success of the project, while neglecting to do so may lead to misunderstanding and ultimately failure. As partners working in settings laden with disparities, project members must be aware of the potential effects of social variables, including power, socioeconomic status, and race, on both the partnership and overall project. This cultural self-awareness is the critical first step towards cross-cultural competency, after which the ability to invite the unexpected and frame-shift become crucial behaviors in successfully navigating the cultural complexities of global medical partnerships.